Multiple-tube-cleaning apparatus.



E. E. HAUER.

MULTIPLE TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, I916.

1,218,765. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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E. E. HAUER.

MULTIPLE TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED YM'AYIS, I916.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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E. E. HAUER.

MULTIPLE TUBE CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY15,|9I6- 1,218,765. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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TED STATES PATN FFK.

ELMER E. BAUER, or SPRINGFIELD, on o, ASSIGNOR T ELLIOTT COMPANY, or

El?IT'JJSBUIRASrH, PENNSYLVAIIIA, A CORPORATION OF- PENNSYLVANIA.

MULTIPLE-TUBE-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application filed-May 1 5, 1916. Serial No. 97,726. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. HAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and '5 State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Tube- Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

My invention relates to tube cleaners and more particularly to a multiple tube cleaner for cleaning tubes in condensers and boilers.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, eflicient and easily operated device having a number of cleaner rods and cutters arranged to simultaneously enter and clean a plurality of tubes.

A further object is to provide means for adapting the device for cleaning tubes spaced different distances apart.

A further object is to provide in combination with a plurality of cleaner rods and cutters a water -box to supply water through the rods to the cutters,the box forming the means of manipulating said rods and cutters.

A further object is to provide a motor having a specially devised casing adapted to carry a plurality of tube cleaners in combination with means to flexibly move and hold the same in operative position for the manipulation of said cleaners in the tubes.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of the constructions and combinations hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification Figure l is an elevation partly in section of a multiple cleaner embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of same; Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line H of Fig.

6; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the gear case onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig.

at; Fig, 7' is a cross-section of a removable gear case similar to the removable gear case shown in Fig. 3 with the'cleaner rod journals spaced apart at different distances; Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a water-box showing cleaner rods spaced apart at different distances from those shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of an expander to hold the device in fixed relation to the tubes to be cleaned, and Fig. 10 is-a cross-section on the line lO l0 of-Fig.. 9.

In the drawings 1 represents the casing of a rotary motor of any suitable construction having a driving shaft 2 and provided with inlet hose 3 and exhaust hose 4, the inlet hose leading from the motive agent.

A gear casing 5 preferably formed as a part of the-motor casing 1 is provided with an open end having a seat 6. I

A removable gear casing 7 has an open end secured to the seat 6 of the casing 5 by bolts 5 as shown.

A water-box 8 having handles 9 is provided with a supply hose'lO leading suitable source of supply. A plurality of blocks 11 have projectingsleeves 12 journaled in the cover 13 and stuffing boxes 14, said cover being secured to the box 8 by screws 15 and holding the blocks and sleeves in place by abutting shoulders 16 of the blocks as shown. Each of the blocks is preferably provided with antifriction thrust bearings having hardened ring plates 17 and 18 with balls 19 interposed between said plates, said balls being held in place by cages 20.

Hollow cleaner rods 21 rectangular in cross-section extend into the sleeves 12, the inner surface of the sleeves being formed to fit said rods and said sleeves are shrunk thereon to hold them in place. Openings 22 are provided through each of the blocks 11 to admit water to the rods as shown.

The removable gear casing 7 is provided with inwardly extending projections 23 forming bearings, which are preferably provided With bushings 2A, in which hubs of gears 25, 26 and 27 are journaled. It will be noted the gears are arranged so that the gear 27 drives each of the gears 25 through the gear 26. To give access for installing the gears within the casing 7 it is provided from a Patented Mar.,13, 1917.

the source of supply of i gear 30 keyed openings 36 in the casing 7 and through rectangular openings 37 in the gears 25 and 27 and are provided at their outer ends with any suitable form of cleaner head, the type shown having outlets 38 through the heads to discharge water from the hollow cleaner rods.

The means for securing the device in front of the tubes to be cleaned will now be described. It comprises a sleeve 39 split longitudinally as shown at 40 and inserted in a tube, with the flange 41 resting against the outer end of the tube, the inner surface of the sleeve being tapered and a tapered plug 42 adapted to lit the taper of the sleeve has a forwardly projecting straight screwthreaded portion 43 projecting beyond the sleeve. A spindle 14E extends through a bore in the spindle and is provided with a shoulder at one end and a nut at the other end to tighten it in place as shown. Said spindle projects forwardly and has a ring or eyelet as at its forward end to engage a hook a6 secured to the casing 5. A handle 47 is adapted to engage the screw-threaded portion of the spindle and by turning the handle against awasher 48 the plug expands the sleeve and tightens it in the tube.

The device being assembled and attached to a pulle block 49 by a hook and eye 50 and said block being suspended by a hook and eye 51 to a carriage 52 having wheels 53 adapted to travel on a rail at having suitable supports not shown the device may be moved horizontally and flexibly lifted or lowered in front of a plurality of tubes 55 to an adjusted position and can be flexibly held in such position by the expanding device heretofore described, the inlet and exhaust hose for the motor and the inlet hose for the water-box being of sufiicient length to permit of such movement and adjustment.

Vhen the device is in its adjusted position and the motive agent admitted to the motor and the water supply to the waterbox, the device is manipulated by the handies 9 of the water-box, the cleaner heads on the ends of the cleaner rods being pushed forward simultaneously into a plurality of tubes, the gears in the gear boxes rotating the rods and water being supplied to the heads through the rods.

Having employed the water-box and gear case 7 with their cleaner rods and gears spaced apart as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 and desiring to clean the tubes of a boiler or condenserrequiring a change in these spaces,

the gear casing 7 together with the waterbox, cleaner rods and gears are removed and another gear case and water-box together with cleaner rods and gears all arranged in like manner but with the cleaner rods differently spaced apart as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are employed, the gear casing 7 being adapted to fit and be secured to the seat 6 of the casing 5 so that the gear 34: will mesh with a gear 27.

The journals in the water-boxes: are lubricated by the water in the boxes and grease can be introduced before attaching the gear casing 7 to the case 5 for the lubrication of the ournals in said casings or an oil hole through one or both of said casings can be provided for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a multiple tube cleaner, a motor and a casing having a plurality of gears therein, means to secure the same in a fixed position, a water-box having hollow cleaner rods extending therefrom and movable therewith, said rods being movable longitudinally through journals in said casing into the tubes to be cleaned and adapted to be rotated by said gears and cleaner heads on said rods, substantially as described:

2. In a multiple tube cleaner, a motor and a casing having a plurality of gears therein, means to flexibly carry the same into a fixed position, and means to secure the same in said position, a water-box having hollow cleaner rods extending therefrom and movable therewith, said rods being movable longitudinally through journals in said casing into the tubes to be cleaned and adapted to be rotated by said gears, cleaner heads on said rocs and a flexible supply conduit secured to said box, said water-box forming a handle to manipulate said rods, substantially as described.

3. In a multiple tube cleaner, a casing having an open end with a seat, a plurality of casings each having an open end adapted to be secured to said seat, gears in each of said casings, one of the gears in said first named casing being adapted to mesh with one of the gears in any one of the other casings, means to flexibly carry said first named casin and any one of the other casings into a med position and means to secure the same in said position, a water-box having hollow cleaner rods extending therefrom and movable therewith, said rods being movable through said last named casing into the tubes to be cleaned and adapted to be rotated by said gears, cleaner heads on said rods and a flexible supply conduit secured to said water-box, substantially as described.

4. In a multiple tube cleaner, a casing formed as a part of a motor and having an open end with a seat and a gear in said casing, a plurality of casings each having an open end adapted to be secured to said seat, a plurality of gears in each of saidlast named casings, one of which is adapted to mesh with each of the others and another one of said gears adapted to mesh with the gear in said first named casing, a plurality of Water-boxes each having journaled therein and extending therefrom hollow cleaner rods movable therewith, the rods of one box being movable longitudinally through journals in one of said plurality of casings into the tubes to be cleaned and adapted to be rotated by the gears therein, said Water-boxes and last named-casings being arranged in pairs, each pair having their rod journals like distances apart, said distances being different in the respective pairs adapting the rods to enter differently spaced tubes, cleaner heads on said rods and outlets from'sa-id rods adjacent to said heads, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

ELMER E. HAUER. Witnesses V Y O. H. HAUsE, V. H. BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

